ATTENDANCE POLICY, PROCEDURES

Regular attendance is important to every student's success at Nelsen. Truancy and repeated tardiness will not be tolerated.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Absences due to personal illness, injury, medical/dental appointments or death in the family are considered excused absences. A parent or guardian needs to call the attendance office (204-3010) to report that you are absent that day. Also, upon returning to school, you need to bring a note from your parent/guardian explaining your absences. School work may be made up if an absence is excused. Upon accumulating ten absences, students are required to have a doctor's note or absences will be unexcused.

AUTHORIZED ABSENCES

Similar to excused absences, missed school work may be made up. They include field trips, short term suspensions and prearranged family related commitments, such as trips or vacations. Family related absences require contact from parent at least 3 days in advance. If this does not occur, the absence is unexcused.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Absences for reasons other than outlined above as excused or authorized are considered unexcused. They include, but are not limited to: missing the bus, oversleeping, car problems and hair appointments. School work missed from an unexcused absence may not be made up.

TRUANCY

Truancy is an unauthorized or willful absence from school, without the permission from the school or parent. Skipping part or all of any class period is also a truancy. Truancy is a serious offense and will result in a penalty for the student. Schoolwork missed from truancy cannot be made up. Repeated truancy will result in a petition to the court system as per Washington State's Becca Bill.

TARDIES

For safety reasons running is not allowed in the hallways or cafeteria. Tardiness to class will be dealt with by individual teachers. If a student does not respond to teacher action, that student will be referred to an administrator. Generally speaking, three tardies will result in a detention and six tardies an in-house suspension. Consequences are at the discretion of staff.

LATE ARRIVALS

Students who arrive late to school shall report to the attendance office for admittance to school. Students not following this procedure will be referred to the office by their teacher. Late arrivals due to illness or medical appointments will be considered excused. Other late arrivals, including those due to failed alarm clocks, car trouble, power failure, etc., will be considered unexcused. Excessive unexcused late arrivals will result in disciplinary action.

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